H.F. No. 163 Summary

• Persons who design, manufacture, label, sell, distribute, or donate COVID-19 related qualified products, household cleaning supplies, or personal protective equipment are not liable in civil actions unless they had actual knowledge the product was defective and acted with complete indifference or conscious disregard to substantial risk of serious injury.

• No civil action related to COVID-19 may be filed for injury, damage, death, or economic loss unless the person was diagnosed with COVID-19 symptoms, required inpatient hospitalization, or experienced serious illness lasting at least 14 days; exception applies to acts committed with intent to cause harm.

• Property owners, lessors, lessees, or occupants owe no duty to eliminate COVID-19 risk or warn of exposure and are not liable for COVID-19-related injury or death unless they acted in a willful, wanton, reckless manner or intentionally caused exposure; workers' compensation claims are excluded.

• Any person conducting business in Minnesota is not liable for COVID-19-related injury, damage, death, or economic loss if their conduct complied with or was consistent with written guidance from federal, state, or local government agencies at the time of the alleged act or omission.

• All provisions are effective retroactively from March 13, 2020, and apply to causes of action accruing on or after that date.